System of shelf-supports.



E. W. BRYANT.

SYSTEM 0F SHELF SUPPORTS.v APPLloAT'IoN FILED Nov.22.19o5.

3 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

@d @mi C2 l PA'IPENTEDDBG. 1fo, 19o?.

- v l PATENTED DEG. 10, 190'?. E. W. BRYANT.

SYSTEM 0F SHELF SUPPORTS.

APPLIOATION FILED nov. 2z. 190s'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'PATENTED DEC. 10, 190'7.

-a SHEETS-snm a.

T w BRYANT SYSTEM: 0T SHELF SUPPORTS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1905.

" S Si WIA/Aval:

- system of shelf su ports which can UNITED STATES EnWARD WILLIAM BRYANT, OF'NEW YORIQ N. Y., AssIGNoR or` ONE-RALF coRELL, oF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

No. 873,496.v

Toall 'whom it may concern: Be it known 'that 1,- EDWARD WILLIAM BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved System of Shelf-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supports for shelves in libraries, stores or other locations, and the object of my improvements Yis to rovide a be readily set up 1n any deslred location, and adapted to spaces of different size, which can be' extended s'o as to 'provide "supports for 'additional' shelving, as required, and which will be, when set up, a homogeneous 'and prac-' tically solid structure.

In'carrying my invention into effect, I

form a skeleton structure, builtv up of shelf` supporting parts or frames which carryfthe shelf brackets, and are arranged in a seriesof ahned stacks. `The frames composing each stack are lsupe osed one upon'another, and

suitably secure from both vertical and horizontal movement. held -together by connecting` pieces, and the entire structure, while built up of independ- '4 ent .separable parts, is locked together throughout, and forms a rigid,- homogeneous whole, which, while readily put to ether, can be taken apart onlyby removing t e parts in "the inverse order of their puttmgtogether.

The connecting pieces betweenthe' stacks maylbelocated atl the'ends of the 'shelfsup-g vporting frames when a single line of shelving 1s desired, or at the centers of the shelf sup# porting frameswhen: it desiredy to have a doublelill'e of shelving.

` "My Invention will be` bestunderstoodby' reference to the' accompanying drawings, in which 1t is illustratedin concrete form'. l

Corresponding arts are indicated by the `same letters ofre erence in the different fig- Referring to. the dravvings,jFi 'i e -1 shows i an elev'ationofj two stacks ofshe 4 supporting frames, each consisting of two of such frames wlth the connecting pieces, seen from the l j rear'. Fig'. 2 shows a vertical section of two shelf sri porting frames, withiag connecting portingframes, seen from above, with a conl necting ieee.` Fig. 4 is a side view of one of Figs. 5 and 6 show details of construction'.

specification of nettersratent. l Application sled November 22.1905. serial 110.288.541'.

The stacks of frames arel 1g. Sisa plan view of two shelf sup' PATENT, OFFICE) sYsTMoFsr'mLF-surronrs. o

'ro JOHN J.

Patented Dec.v 10,1907.

l-plan view showing the arrangement of parts where the connecting Ieces arelocated at the centers of the staclis line of shelves, andalsoan. arrangement for supporting small triangular shelves at the ends of such* double shelf racks.l Such double shelf racks are used when -it isA de- Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the manner'in which the connecting frames enend frames and revent the disengagement mg a section of shelving at rightan'gles with clip which may inner ends of such shelves.

or other suitable metal, cast, or otherwise formed, in the proper shape. R vferring to the drawings, A, B, lndlcate the 'shelf sup orting4 stacks are built u These are pre erably made, as shown,.in t e form of skeleton "frames, consisting of sepa- Which are connected at top and bottom by ceive the ton e" or tenori vof the frame below. Secure to the uprights, O, O, are

.made'integralwith t e frames, or be detach# ably secured thereto in anyv usual oi' well known .mannerl .They project suiiiciently beyond the relatively thin vertical parts, Q, .0, of the framesto form a secure-support .for the 4shelves, which may be readily slipped into after It is completed. .Y

C indicates one of the connectin piecesby means of whichv the stacks of she f supports lare held together. These are rovi ed at each end with two dove-taile ears, 0, c,

, to form a doubley gage .the interlocking portions of the side or v other shelves and Fig. 1 0 shows in section a be usedfor supporting the All the'parts are preferably madeI of iron',

two of the shellsupporting lparts of which' rated relatively thin vertical supports, O, O,

,led es or brackets, s, s, upon which the'`- she ves rest when in osi'tion.` These may bey I place as the' structure is bultup, or;

sired to.' have shelves standing out rorn a wall, or' independent, as in library alcoves.4

thereof. Fig; 9 s ows a method Ofconnecthorizontal parts, rovided at top and bottom 4 of correspon ing shape, and along the lowel Yface ofeach runs a groove, b, adapted to re-v which aref-adapted to engage with the she upper surfaces of these base pieces are provided with tenons, a', in the same manner as the upper surfaces of the frames, A,B. l

In setting u a system of shelf supports, two of the she supporting frames, as A, B,

are placed upon two base pieces, D, by sliding the. grooves b, upon the tenons, ai, on the 2 upper surfaces of the bases. Aconnecting ieee, C, isthen put in position between the rames, A, B,"the ears, c, c, bein placed in the slots, d, d, in the upper and ower rails of the frames.D The flaring ends of a stretcher rod,-E, are placed in slots, e, e, in the lower rails of the frames, in order to prevent anyT lateral displacement of the fronts thereof.

A second pair of shelf supportin frames, A', B', are then laced upon those a ready in posltion, by s din the grooves, I), upon the tenons, a, until t e slots, d, d, in their lower rails4 register with the correspondingslots in the upper rails of 'the frames, A, B, and a second connecting piece, C',.and a stretcher rod`are put in pace between these in the same manner as before.v In this way the stacks o f shelf supporting frames are built up., until the structure. isA of the desired height. The-slots, d, d, in the upper rails of the frames extend somewhat into the tenons, a, a, and the corresponding slots in the lower rails extend into the grooves, 13,1), the slots of the superpqsed frames registering one with another, so that when a connecting piece, as C', is put in place, its lower ears, 0,* c, engage at the same time the' upper rails of the frames, A, B, and the lower rails of the frames, A', B', and so on throughout the structure.

with the one upon whichit rests, and is im- Thus eachframe is interlocked movable thereon. Each stack .of shelf supportm frames is also joined to theadjacent y stack ly Athe connecting pieces, and the re- -sult is a structure-which,fwhile easily put to- -In further extending the structure laterally,`

gether, is homo eneous and rigid, and can be taken apart' o y by removing the pieces in the inverse order of their putting together.

A a third stack of shelf supporting frames is built up in the same manner as already described, and joined to one of those already in place by .connecting pieces, in the same way.

en it is desired to'have double stacks of shelves extending out Yfrom a wall to form alcoves, as in libraries, double shelf supporting frames, shown at G, Fig. 7, may be employed. In these the slots, d, for receiving fee the ears, c, of the connecting pieces,` C, are located at the center of the frames. Such an arrangement is equivalentto two stacks of single shelf supporting frames placed back to frames mortise, but do not lock to those below them. Y

A modified arrangement forlocating shelves v at right angles to other shelves is shown in Fig. 9. In this arrangement the outer ends of the frames, as A, are provided with slots, d', to receive the ears, c, of connecting pieces, C", the ears on the outer end of which enga 'c the slots in frames A", placed at right ang es to the frames, A. The frames, A" may be either single, as shown in Fig. 9, or double, as shown in 7 The outer end of the shelf, S', is supported on the frame, A, in the manner already described, while its inner end is secured to the shelf, S, in any suitable manner, as by clips, f, shown in section in Fig. 10. Such an arrangement is employed in turning a line of shelves, as at the corner of a room, or for .connecting alcoves with a series of wall shelving. The shelves may be placed in the structure after it is completed, or as it is built up, and can be removed at any time. Ornamental fronts or moldings may besecured to the structure at top and bottom,

vif desired, in any usual or convenient manner.

My above described invention enables the construction of a light, metal, iireproof shelf` supporting structure, which is economical to manufacture, which can be easily and quickly put in place, which is adaptable to spaces of any size, and which can be extended either horizontally or vertically, or both, as may be required, to meet the needs of the user.

While I have described the best means at present known to me of carrying my inven-A tion into effect, it will be evident that various modifications, which will readily occur to those skilled in the art, may be made in lthe details of construction, as, for example, in the Vmanner of securing the superposed frames to one another, and of securing the connecting pieces to the stacks of frames, without departing from the Vspirit of my invention; and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in these respects. y

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A skeleton shelf supportin structure, consisting `of a series of aline stacks of Superposed shelf supporting frames, provided upon their upper and lower surfaces respectively with dovetailed tongues and grooves, and upon their sides with registering dovetailed slots, and connecting pieces between said stacks, provided with dovetailed ears adapted to enter said slots, and so arranged that each of said connecting pieces engages at each end with two of said shelf supporting frames.

I '72. A skeleton shelf-.su porting. structure,

. -composed of a'series of la ined stacks of shelf lper and lower surfaces wit supporting frames, provided upon their up'- 4 dovetailed tongues and grooves, whereby vertical displacement of'said frames is prevented, and

y .connecting pieces between said stacksso arranged that eachof said pieces engages atv each end with two of said shelf supporting frames.' l 3. A 4skeleton shelf suI porting structure,

" composed ofa series of a ined stacks of shelf supporting frames,provided u on their sides wit registering dovetailedv s ots, and connecting pieces-.between said stacks, rovided at each end with dovetaile'd ears a aptedvto enterfsaidslots, and so arranged. that each of saidconnecting pieces ,engages at each end with two of said frames', wherebythe stacks are held t ether, and.,horizontal-displace# ment of said frames is prevented. I

4. A skeleton shelf su porting 'struc-ture, composed lof a series of alliD vertical displacement vof said frames, and connecting pieces-between sald stacks, so arranged that each of said connecting pieces pieces independent of the shelving constructed'to. hold the stacks together, and prevent the disenga 'ement .of saidinterlocking parts, substantia ly as' described.

6. A skeleton shelf supporting structure,

' composed of aseries of alined stacks of separable vertically disposed frames, having in-v 'terlocking devices for preventing the vertical displacement of'said frames, and provided with shelf supports, and means independent of the shelvlng for holding said stacks together, substantially as described.

.- y7. A skeleton shelf -supporting structure composed of a series of alined stacks of sepal rable vertically disposed frames, each o'f which is provided at itsupper and lower ends with devices adapted to mterlock with .other similar frames, to prevent their" vertical displacement, each' of sald frames being also provided with horizontal shelf supporting projections, and connecting pieces, independent of the shelvin extendin between said stacks, substantial y' as descri ed. v 8.- In a skeleton. shelf supporting structure,

the combination'of a shelfl supporting frame' consisting ofl vertical supporting parts and horizontal connections between such parts, and carrying shelf supporting brackets, and

'means 4for securing such'- frames to other n ed stacks of shelf` supporting frames, means for preventing.

,amaai frm-S dispsed both vertically and horizontally in relation thereto.

9. A shelf A'supporting frame adapted to form part of a skeleton shelf supporting structure, and comprising vertical` supports and shelf brackets carried thereby, horizontal connectionsbetween such supports, flanges projecting horizontally beyond the plane of `said supports, -and on the top andbottom thereof, respectively, a dovetailed tongue and groove adapted to engage similar tongues and grooves of other frames. l

10. bA shelf supporting frame adapted to form part of a shelf supporting structure,

having horizontal top and bottom pieces,

provided with interlocking portions, for en' `gaging parts 'above and below said frame, and

separated vertical supports relatively thin" ner than the top and bottom pieces, andprovidedl with shelf supporting brackets, sub.- ystantia'lly as described.'`

Y 1,1. A shelf supporting. frame adapted to.

formfpart of a shelf supporting structure, havin horizontal top land bottom ieces, proviedl with interlocking portions ,Y or. engaging parts above and below saidframe, and Separated vertical supports relatively thinner than the top andbott'om pieces, and

havmg portions extending laterally beyond said supports, lsubstantially as described.

12. A11 adapted to form part of a shelf supporting structure, comprising fiat horizontal top and bottom pieces provided, the one with projecting portions and the other with ,recessed portions forfengaging other parts of the-structure above and below said frame, verticaly supports connecting-said top and'- bottom pieces adjacent to their ends, and being integral shelfv supporting frame -provided with shelf supporting brackets. I

relatively thinner than said top and bottom.

pieces, and shelf supporting brackets eX- tending from` one of said vertical supports to 4the other,between the top and bottom ieces,

and having portions extending latera ly beyondA the vertical plane .of said vertical sup-v ports, substantially as described.

13. In a skeleton shelf supporting strucA ture, the combination with vertically disposed side frames, provided at top and bottomA with interlocking devices for engagmg I parts of the structure above and below the.

same, and having shelf supporting brackets, of a vertically disposed connecting plece,

provided at each end with interlocking portions adjacent to the top and bottom of thesame, and engaging said side frames -cen. trally, for spacing said side frames and holding them in vertical position, said shelf supporting brackets extending on both sides of said connecting piece, substantially as described.

v14. In a system of shelf supports consist ing of shelf supporting frames and connecting pieces Abetween said frames, as a means of changing the direction of a line of shelves,v the combination with a shelf supporting frame of a connecting piece engaging with the end of such frame, and a second shelf supporting frame engaged with such connecting-piece, and standing at right angles to said first mentioned frame.- y

15. A skeleton shelf supporting structure comprising vertically disposed supporting frames7 each provided at top and bottom with interlocking devices, for preventing the -vertical disengagement'of said frames, and v provided with shelf supporting portions, and

horizontal connecting pieces, independent of the shelves engaging said vertical frames, and. having portions for locking said frames against horizontal displacement, with respect to eachother, substantially as described.

16. A skeleton shelf supporting structure com rising vertically disposed sup ort sidegrames, provided at top and bottolin interlocking devices for engaging ,similar frames above and below the same, and provided with ishelf supports, and a vertically disposed connecting frame, provided at eachn end with interlocking devices adjacent to the top and bottom thereof for engaging interlocking parts of said side frames, ijor spacing them and holding them in vertical position, substantially as described, y

-17 A skeleton shelf` supporting structure, comprising vertically disposed supporting side frames, provided at top and bottom .with interlocking devices for engaging similar frames labove and belenT the same, and having horizontal shelf supports, a vertically disposed yconnecting frame, provided at each end With interlocking devices adjacent to the top and bottom, to engage the side frames adjacent to one end 'of the same, andl a stretcher rod, provided with interlocking parts at each end for connecting the opposite edges oi said side frames, substantially as described.

, In testimony whereof," I have hereunto subscribed my name, this 14th day of November A. D., 1905.

EDWARD W'ILLIAM BRYANT. Witnesses:

J. P. MARTIN,

A. E. STORIE. 

